We are Award Winning Architects based in the North West
We have just picked up the Green Apple Environment Award for Best Practice 2010
Denovo Design prides itself on having a well-established track record of designing eco-friendly housing since the 1990s, and on having designed the first ‘Green’ housing development in Liverpool, and also the first on the Wirral.
The Practice has been fortunate enough to have been rewarded in its endeavours to produce sustainable developments, by scooping several National Environmental Awards. Please see the Awards page to see some our our achievements.
The Practice continues to update its knowledge in this specialism with membership of The Green Register of Construction Professionals, and participation in their national seminars, at which colleagues from other architectural practices in the area are present, thus allowing the positive exchange of ideas with like-minded professionals. We also arrange regular, ‘in-house,’ CPD seminars, with a strong focus on sustainability.
"AS A CONSTRUCTION PROFESSION, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD THE WAY IN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT THE INDUSTRY HAS UPON THE ENVIRONMENT" Frank Olchowski DIRECTOR
Denovo Design scoop 2 GOLD International Green Apple Awards for the built environment and architectural heritage, in the 'regeneration projects' sector for Aveling Drive and Ashton under Lyne, presented at a prestigeous ceremony at the Tower of London on 14th June
Many thanks to everyone who attended our launch party, we couldn't have done it without you! There was lots of positive feedback about our services and specifications and if you would like any more information please give us a call and pop in for a coffee. Alternatively watch this space for future events.
Office Move Denovo Design are now up and running in their new larger office premises in the heart of the Citys Ropewalks area. The new offices are much lighter, brighter and more energy efficient than the previous offices. Many thanks to SquareOne for supplying the carpets and Hunters Contracts for supplying our furniture.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Accreditation. Denovo Design are officially working toward achieving formal accreditation.
Extension to The Ark, Birkenhead Denovo Design recently attended the official opening of the new extension. The building has a green roof, a first for the Practice. See project pages
RICS 2010 Awards The urban regeneration scheme at Ashton-under-Lyne came 3rd in the Sustainability Category. See project pages
National Built Environment Awards 2010 Denovo Design have 2 of their projects shortlisted for Awards at this forthcoming event.
BACK
Ashton-under-Lyne - Fitzroy Street for West Pennine Housing Association (Part of the Regenda Group)
New build housing development comprising ten (3 bed x 5 person) family houses and five (2 bed x 3 person) bungalows.
•Winner of the Green Apple Built Environment Award 2010.
•Runner-up in the 'Sustain' Awards 2010.
•Runner-up in the RICS Sustainability Award 2010.
•Winner of the 'Building for Life' Silver Standard '09.
•Winner of National Home Improvement Council Award 2009 for 'Best Private or Public Development using Recycled Urban Land or Buildings'.
•Nominated for the final six in the Housing in Excellence Award 2009 for 'Best New Affordable Housing Scheme of the Year'!
•Shortlisted for the Galvanizers' Association Awards '09.
•Achieved Very Good EcoHomes rating and Secured by Design accreditation. Designed to Lifetime Homes standard.
•Contract value £1.5m. Partnering contract with Lovell.
•Start date January 2008, completion December 2008.
•KPIs - Maximise use of sustainable materials; completion on programme and to budget.
2 Bed 3 person Bungalows
gate numerals
3bed 5 person houses
Colourful roof top cowels to the sunpipes bringing natural light onto the stairs in each property
National home improvemnet council GOLD award winner 2009
Ashton-under-Lyne - Stockport Road for West Pennine Housing Association (Part of the Regenda Group)
New build housing development comprising five 3 bed x 5 person family houses
•Winner of the Silver Green Apple Award for the Built Environment 2009
•Achieved Very Good EcoHomes rating and Secured by Design accreditation, designed to Lifetime Homes standard.
•Contract value £600k. Partnering contract with Lovell.
•Start date March 2008, completion March 2009
•KPI sustainable design; completion to programme and budget. Minimum defects at handover.
•Incorporates green wall rear boundary and velux flat panel sun tunnels in roof cowls.
3bed 5person houses
rear of houses
Green wall rear boundary to houses
Galvanised rainwater pipes with integrated water butt feeds. Shortlisted for Galvanizers Association Award 2009
Building for Life SIlver Standard Award 2009
Ashton-under-Lyne - Marlborough Street for West Pennine Housing Association (Part of the Regenda Group)
New build housing development comprising fourteen 3 bed x 5 person family houses and five 2 bed x 3 person houses and four 2 bed x 3 person bungalows.
•Shortlisted for the Galvanizers' Association Awards '09
•Contract value £2.3m. Partnering contract with Lovell.
•Start date March 2008, completion June 2009.
•KPIs minimal defects at handover.
View down Marlborough Street showing traffic calming
2bed 3person houses
Front garden to terraces
Coloured roof cowels to sunpipes bringing natural light into the stairwells
Green Apple Built Environment Award 2010
Grade II listed Georgian frontage
Entrance to Grade II listed Georgian frontage
New build apartment incorporating the listed Georgian facade
Great George Square for Maritime Housing Association
(Part of the Regenda Group)
•Winner of the National Gold Green Apple Award for the Built Environement 2007.
•£4m residential development, Great George Square, Liverpool 1, comprising 43 apartments and 6 houses in two separate blocks, fronting Great George Square.
•Includes retention of Grade II listed, 4- storey, Georgian façade.
•Design/build with Globe Management Services, (Manchester).
•Contract completed in October 2006.
Cardigan Road, New Brighton, Wirral for Wirral Methodist Housing Association
•Winner of: Daily Post Regional Property Award 2007 - 'Residential Development of the Year - Social Housing', Your Move Environmental Award 2007, National 'Silver' Green Apple Award for the Built Environment 2007, also Runner Up in 2 categories NHIC Annual Awards 2007, and a Groundworks Trust Certificate 2007
•Development on cleared infill site, New Brighton of 4 semi-detached bungalows, with specific disabled facilities.
•Energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, high quality, affordable housing.
•Contract Value:- £497,000.00 Partnered with Devonshire Developments.
•Started June 2005 - completed May 2006
•KPI - Partnering, technological innovation
kitchen / dining area to houses
traffic calming integrated within development
canopy over entrance areas
Galvanised rainwater pipes
Aveling Drive, Banks - for Cosmopolitan Housing Association
•New build housing development comprising a mix of twenty (3 bed x 5 person) houses and (2 bed x 3 person) bungalows for rent and for sale.
•Designed to achieve Very Good EcoHomes rating and Secured by Design accreditation; designed to Lifetime Homes standard.
•Contract value £ 2.2m. Design and Build contract with J Armor Ltd.
•Start date March 2008. Completion October 2009.
•KPI sustainable design; completion to programme and budget; minimum defects at handover.
•SUDS to new access roads and driveways.
building and landscape design proposals
front elevation from Windsor street
Section through entrance and circulation core
Windsor Street, -for Cherry Mill
Craven Street, -for Wirral Methodist Housing Association
Pleasant Street - for Mount Pleasant Developments
•The project involved the repair and restoration of the Listed former Pleasant Street School building and conversion into 19No apartments, in conjunction with a new build development on the vacant corner site, to provide basement and ground floor commercial and retail units and 24No new apartments for sale.
•The area between these two developments contains hard and soft landscaping to provide the associated car parking, cycle stands, bin stores and communal amenities.
•Contract Value/Type:- £5.5M - Traditional Procurement
•Contractor - W H Snow
Ivyhurst Manor, Liverpool 17 - for Darby Macy Developments
•Winner of a prestigious international 'Green Apple' Award for the Built Environment & Architecture Heritage 2006.
•Conversion and adaptation of Grade II listed former Grange Hotel into apartments, with the demolition of a large insensitive hotel extension in the grounds enabling development of a further 6 new apartments
•Particular care was given to preserving period features: during construction local craft skills were utilised in fields such as lead-work and decorative plasterwork.
•Contract Value/Type:- £1.3M Design/Build, with Globe Management Services, the Contractor
•Contract completed September 2005
TGWU Office, Cardiff
for Unite the Union
Works involve the complete fit out and update of the TGWU office in Cardiff.
visualisation of entrance pod
Visualisation of main entrance
visualisation of rear extension
aerial view of extension
cafe visualisation
cafe / servery visualisation
reception visualisation
TGWU UNITE Holborn, London
Refurbished front elevation
new office interior
Staff breakout space
reception
New Offices 3/7 Shaw Street, Liverpool for Kays Medical
•Shortlisted in March 2009 for the Northwest Business Environment Award. The project comprises the refurbishment of 2 Georgian townhouses, creating new showroom and office accommodation and first-aid training suites, with upgrading of the adjoining warehouse.
•Innovative use of materials eg. Armstrong axiom ceilings and Danpal partitioning.
•Contract value £460K. Negotiated contract with Liverpool Building and Joinery Contractors.
•Start date June 2008, completion in December 2008.
•KPI completion on time; maintaining continuity of business operations throughout build period.
St Catherines Hospital Cheshire & Wirral NHS Partnership
The Irene Kennedy Centre
The Irene Kennedy Centre interior
Mayor of Wirral at the opening ceremony of the The Irene Kennedy Centre
Sedum roof- spring
Sedum roof in flower
The Ark Sandford Street, Birkenhead for The Wirral Ark
Winner of the Green Apple Environmental Best Practice Award 2010
TEXT IN HERE
"Its is in no small part the vision of Frank Olchowski from Denovo Design, particularly the wonderful addition of our "green" roof - a great talking point amongst staff, clients and visitors. As an organisation we are keen to protect our planet and recycle, reuse and turn off as much as we can. This roof is a continuation of this policy"
Anne O' Marah
CEO the Wirral Ark
Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester
Conversion and refurbishment of two storey building to improve functionality to assist in the relocation of
the occupational health department within the hospital.
Belle Vale Health Centre, Liverpool
Internal alterations to form new entrance vestibule, interview room and fully equipped pharmacy for Kays Medical (in conjunction with Aintree Hospital Trust).
Netherley Health Centre, Liverpool
New-build extension to form new waiting area, interview room and fully equipped pharmacy for Kays Medical (in conjunction with Aintree Hospital Trust).
Cardigan Road, New Brighton
New build bungalows designed specifically for families with a severely disabled child. Multi-Award winning scheme, including National Built Environment Award 2007 and Daily Post Regional Property Award Residential Development of the Year Social Housing)
Sandringhan Health Centre, Aigburth
Proposals for internal alterations and extension to existing Health Centre (in conjunction with Aintree Hospital Trust)
Hillside Medical Centre, Huyton, Liverpool
Extension and alterations to existing doctors surgery in conjunction with Knowsley NHS PCT.
Fulwood Green Medical Centre, Liverpool
New-build doctors surgery and medical centre.
May Logan Centre, Bootle, Liverpool
New-build primary care medical and community centre.
Vincent Harkins Day Care Centre, Birkenhead
Single storey centre for the local elderly community administered by Servite Houses. Centre comprised a lounge/dining room for up to 50 people/commercial kitchen/ counselling rooms/chiropody room/physiotherapy suite/assisted bathroom/ hairdressing suite.
Heswall Health Centre, Heswall
new-build extension to an existing Health Centre for Wirral Area Health Authority
to accommodate 3 no. General Practitioners and a Community Health Service.
Liverpool Parish Church, (St Nicks), for the Rector of the Parish
•The Liverpool Parish Church is Grade II Listed and is located on the prominent corner site of Chapel Street and The Strand, adjacent to the Liver Building.
•The construction works included the major alterations to and the refurbishment of the Parish Centre and Administration Block, and remedial works to the external fabric of the church and bell tower.
•Contract Values/Type:- £900K/Traditional Contract
£100K/ Traditional Contract
•Completed Spring 2006
St John the Baptist, Tuebrook, for the Rector of the Parish
Ongoing repair & conservation of the fabric of this Grade I listed building
Phase I works completed in 2001 comprised repairs to masonry at high level; renewal and improvement to lead and cast iron gutters; roof repairs; structural repairs within tower and new lightning protection system
Phase II will comprise masonry repairs to south aisle walls, with part-funding from Heritage Lottery Fund/English Heritage
Contract Value of Phase 1:- £300k
Contract Value of Phase II:- £100k
Phase 1 completed 2001, Phase 2 imminent
Eastbourne Centre
Works involve the complete refurbishment of 1970's hotel accommodation, whilst the hotel remains open, to include:
Pensby Sports College
for Wirral Borough Council
Construction of a new sports complex at Pensby Sports College, Wirral.
New-build Sports Complex extending existing School gymnasium. The works included a multi-purpose Sports Hall, changing rooms, cafeteria and external playing areas.
Contract Value/Type: £2.4M, PPC2000 with Felton Construction.
Completed in April 2006.
KPI - delivering efficient best practice in respective organisations.
BMW motorbike showroom and offices
Proposed Housing Development, Skelmersdale
Proposed Housing Development, Lodge Farm, Runcorn
Belvedere Primary School
Alder Grange
Established in 2004 with the merger of pbm architects and Pantoscopic, the Practice is a Director-led architectural team, and has extensive experience of successfully completing a variety of projects of a size from £100K to £10million.
The bulk of the Practice workload is derived from repeat business.
Practice Policy:
To provide a friendly, efficient service to Clients, with a balance between good design and cost effective solutions to meet their brief.
To continue to promote techniques and products which reduce the impact of construction on the environment.
Accreditations:
• RIBA Registered Practice
• 4* Member of the Green Organisation
• Member of the Green Register of Construction Professionals
• Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC)
• Member Chartered Society of Designers
• Registered with Constructionline
• Investors in People Award 2007
Equal Opportunities:
Denovo Design is an Equal Opportunities organisation and has achieved the Investors in People accreditation.
COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL
Thank you to Aitziber and Dave following your recent completion of re furbishing our new department at Chester.
I found you very helpful and supportive and you both worked with us on all aspects, even my minor concerns.
Aitziber was right to encourage me to trust her on the colour scheme and it has gone down well with the team and visitors alike.
You were always approachable and listened with patience and understanding. The work was completed to a high standard and considering the task you had been given you produced a well lit environment, and made the most of the very little natural light we have, providing us with very pleasant working department.
Thanks Again
Gill Bale
Specialist Practitioner Occupational Health
Clinical Manager OH - Chester and South East Cheshire
PARISH CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
I have enjoyed very much the cordial and friendly relationships with the firm, and at the same time have always been kept completely in the picture about progress, and developments along the way. In general I have had much of my own involvements well directed, and supported, and I have had no complaints at all about the professionalism involved and courteously offered.
Canon Paul Nener, Vicar
BIS
Your interest and support for the work this Department is doing on low carbon construction and sustainability is greatly appreciated. It is also heartening to see sustainability and innovation in construction valued so highly within your organisation.
Stephen Booth, Business Sectors Information Hub
KAYS MEDICAL
I would strongly recommend that anybody considering embarking upon a refurbishment project or similar considers the services of Denovo Design. Their overall management of the project from inception to completion was impressive not least of all because they were always readily available to answer queries and offer advice.
They were attentive and helpful throughout and remain on hand post-works as needed. They struck a balance between style and substance which was met nicely in an economical and timely fashion.It was a pleasure working with Frank and his professional team and I would be happy to recommend their services.
B M Ludzker, M.D, Kays Medical Ltd
THE WIRRAL ARK
Wirral Churches Ark Project has had a working relationship with Denovo Design for over 10 years. Our experience has been excellent, in that we have found them to be professional, realistic and helpful.
We, as a charity, offer accommodation, training and support. These need a variety of building facets built into one building, and Denovo, in designing our hostel in 1999, met that requirement fully.
Since then, in designing our extension, helping with increasing our housing stock, getting planning permission, and answering a myriad of smaller technical questions, we have found them to be our ally at all times.
Bob Jarvis
Finance and Development Manager
THE GREEN ORGANISATION
The Green Organisation is pleased to be associated with Denovo Design.
They have always demonstrated a high level of professionalism and reliability.
As winners of our Green Apple Environment Awards and subsequently valued members of The Green Organisation, Denovo Design have demonstrated their commitment to the environment and they set a standard for others to follow.
It is a pleasure to endorse their efforts.
Roger Wolens
SEACOMBE CHILDRENS CENTRE
It has been a pleasure working with you and I have always found you supportive and committed to this project at Seacombe. I think we have come out of this with a great building and I would really like to thank you for your huge contribution.
The project would not have been a success without real partnership working and a commitment to creating a centre that was shaped by the views of local families and staff, which I felt you embraced and facilitated effectively.
Good luck with your future ventures.
Claire Campbell
Children's Centre Co-ordinator
WIRRAL METHODIST HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Denovo Design successfully engineered a solution to fit 4 disabled access family bungalows on an extremely difficult site.
The architecture stands out from anything in the surrounding area and makes a bold statement whilst providing much needed family accommodation to a high specification.
A number of highly regarded awards were received for the project further increasing client and end user satisfaction.
We are always delighted with the exciting solutions Denovo provide to meet ever more complicated client desires and the level of their service is second to none.
David Corran
Building Surveyor
Development Manager
Liverpool City Council Building Control
Liverpool City Council Building Control and Denovo Design entered into a LABC Partnership agreement some years ago, on the back of an existing, strong and lucrative existing relationship, developed over a considerable period of time on many varied projects across the City.
